Iced pack shipping box



Sept. 19; 1967 T. c. KITCHELL ICED PACK SHIPPING BOX Filed May 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR THORNE C. KITCHELL MQB A RN

l 19, 1967 .T. c.' KITCHELL 3,342,401

' ICED PACK SHIP-PING BOX Fil ed May 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS THORNE C. KITCHELL 7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 3,342,401 ICED PACK SHIPPING BOX Thorne C. Kitchell, Spartanburg, S.C., assignor to Union Camp Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,748 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-35) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shipping box for iced edible products provided with a self-locking cover adapted with tongue and slit means for lifting the filled box and cover as a unit, the body of the box being formed of a single blank. The box and cover are formed of high wet strength paperboard and the box is assembled by a plurality of integral interlocking tabs without need for additional securing means, such as staples and the like.

This invention relates to an improved covered shipping box, and more particularly to an improved shipping box for iced products that can be assembled without extraneous securing means and can be lifted by the self-locking cover as a single unit. Furthermore it has high wet strength which makes the covered unit especially suited for edible products, such as iced lobster, iced poultry, iced fish, and the like.

A great many edible products that are highly susceptible to spoilage must be shipped from their point of origin to their final destination. The distances are often quite lengthy and many days may be spent in transmit. In order to protect the products and to prevent spoilage, they are packed in shipping boxes containing ice.

It has been the general practice to pack the edible prodnets and ice in a shipping box made of spaced wooden slats joined by wire. This type of box has many disadvantages from the standpoint of both the shipper and the receiver. Quite often some of the edible product will squeeze out between the slats and become contaminated. Also, the ice can cause the binding wire to become rusty and thereby contaminate the products and make the box highly unsightly to the ultimate consumer or receiver. In addition, the slats often splinter to make the box unhealthy and a hazard to whomever handles the boxes. Another disadvantage is the cost in making the wood and wire boxes and the fact that they cannot be shipped in a flat condition when empty. Due to the insulating qualities of corrugated board less ice is needed and enroute re-icing of some products is eliminated.

In order to eliminate some of these problems, experimentation has been done on high wet strength paperboard boxes. However, while eliminating some of the problems inherent in wood and wire boxes, other problems have developed. For instance, the paperboard boxes are usually held together by staples or other metal securing means and, quite often, the securing means oxidizes or rusts and becomes unsightly and a potential contamination threat to the products being shipped therein. Also, the paperboard box must be ultimately bound with wire to prevent the cover from coming off or the sides from separating. This, of course, brings back all the problems associated with wires, such as oxidation and cost. In addition, when mechanical or chemical securing means are used to hold the shipping box in its assembled state, they cannot be shipped in a flat condition when empty.

In order to eliminate all of the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a paperboard box that can be assembled without the use of extraneous securing means and shipped in a flat, space-saving condition when empty. The improved shipping box of this invention is made of components that have the necessary high wet ice strength, wet rigidity, and resistance to penetration by Water, grease and organic fluids found in meat, tfiSh, produce and dairy products. In addition, the new improved shipping box described hereinafter has the ability to retain its wet strength and rigidity for great lengths of time under the most adverse conditions, such as prolonged ice and water exposure or water immersion.

The high resistance to water saturation or contamination of the present shipping box is accomplished by coating and impregnating the components of the box with wax, in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The wax must be of a type and quality suitable for use in contact with edible products and should be applied with particular regard respecting its temperature, wax applicator control settings and point of application so as to assure linear board receptivity to the wax.

An important improvement of the present shipping box is that the body of the box can be assembled without the use of mechanical or chemical securing means. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of integral interlocking elements which enable the box to be assembled or disassembled quickly and easily at any location. The integral interlocking elements provide an adjunct function in preventing the cover of the box from fitting too close to the body of the box while preventing contaminated matter from entering the box. The space between the cover and the body of the box enables all handlers of the box to obtain a good grip thereon in order to move the box from one location to another quickly and easily. In addition, the cover of this new improved shipping box is securely locked to the body of the box in a manner that eliminates the need for additional extraneous securing means while providing a heavy-duty, highly efficient, secure, easily manipulated lock and carrying means.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved shipping box for shipping edible products.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box that can be assembled or disassembled entirely by hand without the utilization of extraneous securing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box that is held in its assembled condition by integral interlocking means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box, the cover of which is secured to the body by integral interacting means without the utilization of extraneous securing means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shipping box that has a high wet strength and rigidity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box that can be shipped in a flat condition when empty.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box that has a high resistance to penetration by water, grease and organic fluids.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box, the cover of which is secured to the body in a manner that provides readily available hand grips for handles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a box that is economical to construct and of greatly reduced weight and complexity.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear herein-after.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the invention which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the assembled box with its cover secured thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the assembled body of the box and the underside of its cover prior to being placed thereon;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the box is constructed;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an intermediate step in the assembly of the body of the box;

FIGURE 5 is a view along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 showing the integral interlocking means for retaining the body of the box in its assembled condition; and

FIGURE 7 is a view along line 77 of FIGURE 1 showing the integral interacting means for securing the cover to the body of the box.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGURE 3 a flat, substantially rectangular blank 10 of sheet material, such as corrugated board or the like, of a weight suitable for the size and type of box to be constructed. The sheet material is impregnated and coated with a suitable wax or other liquid-resistant material in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

The blank 10 comprises a bottom portion 11 defined by score lines 12 and 13; a pair of side portions 14 ad jacent the score lines 12; a pair of end portions 15 adjacent the score lines 13; a pair of end flaps 16 adjacent each of the end portions 15 and connected thereto along score line 12; a continuous ledge panel 17 connecting the end portion 15 and the end flaps 16 along the outer edge thereof; and a continuous collar flange 18 secured along the outer longitudinal edge of the ledge panel 17.

The end flaps 16 are separated from the side portions 14 by cutout 19 which extends from the intersection of the score lines 12 and 13 to the outer edges of blank 10. The cutout 19 has a notch 20 adjacent its outer end and serves as an indentation in the edges of the side portion 14. A pair of coaxial locking tabs 21 are located in the side portions 14 intermediate the score line 12 and the outer edge of side portion 14. The locking tabs 21 are cut through along three sides and scored along the side nearest the score line 12. A substantially identical complementary locking tab 22 is located in each of the end flaps 16. The locking tabs 22 are cut through on three sides and scored along the side nearest the cutout 19 and coaxial with the locking tabs 21. The locking tabs 22 and their nearest respective complementary locking tabs 21 are positioned to coincide when the side portions 14 are superimposed over the end flaps 16, as is shown in FIG- URE 2.

While the locking tabs 21 and 22 have been shown and described as substantially rectangular, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the tabs can be circular, oblong, or other configuration without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Located substantially along the midpoint of the score lines 13 are apertures 23. The apertures 23 extend over into both the bottom portion 11 and the end portions 15. The apertures 23 allow the drainage of water and other liquids from inside the box after assembly. The configuration of the apertures 23 is such as to assure unblocked drainage. While the apertures 23 have been described as being along the midpoint of the score lines 13, it is obvious that they can be located anywhere along its length and even along the length of the score lines 12.

A pair of locking slits 24 are located in the end portions 15 parallel to the ledge panel 17 and symmetrical about a longitudinal line bisecting the apertures 23. The locking slits 24 are positioned at a distance from the ledge panel 17 slightly greater than the width of the collar flange 18.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 which shows the ledge panel 17 in greater detail, it will be noted that the ledge panel 17 is scored along both longitudinal edges thereof so that it is slightly raised above the surfaces of the adjoining end portion 15 and the collar flange 18. The scoring of the ledge panel 17 will enable it to assume a substantially level posture when folded into its final assembled position.

It will be noted by reference to FIGURE 3 that the score lines 12 extend the entire length of the blank 10, thereby dividing the ledge panel 17 and the collar flange 18 into three parts of the same length as the outer edges of the adjacent end portions 15 and end flaps 16.

FIGURE 4 shows the blank 10 in an intermediate step in assembly. It will be noted therefrom that the side portions 14 are folded substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion 11 along score lines 12. The collar flange 18 is folded outwardly and downwardly about the ledge panel 17, so that the raised portion of the ledge panel 17 overlaps the inner edge of the collar flange 17 and the outer edge of the end portion 15 and the end flaps 16. The end flaps 16 are now folded upwardly substantially perpendicular to the end portion 15 about the score lines 12. Completing the configuration the end portions 15 are folded substantially perpendicular to the bottom portion 11 along the score line-s 13 and the upper edges of the side portions 14 are inserted between the collar flange 18 and the outer surface of the end flaps 16 in abutting relationship to the inner surface of the ledge panel 17. In this position, the locking tabs 22 and 21 are in juxtaposition, as shown best in FIGURES 2 and 6, which additionally shows the abutting relationship between the side portion 14 and the ledge panel 17. The complementary locking tabs 21 and 22 are now pushed outwardly from the inside of the box, as shown in FIGURE 6, to form the locking means for retaining the shipping box in its final assembled condition.

A cover 25 is shown best in FIGURE 2, and comprises a top panel 26, a pair of side panels 27 and a pair of end panels 28. The side panels 27 have a projecting flap 29 extending from each longitudinal edge thereof for securing the side panels 27 to the end panels 28. The manner of securing may be any one of many known to those skilled in the art. For the sake of illustration, a fastener 30 has been used in FIGURE 2; however, other mechanical or chemical fastening means may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The end panels 28 are provided with a locking tongue 31 which is located centrally and inwardly of the free outer edges of the end panels 28 and is secured to the end panel 28 along a score line 32.

After the blank 10 and the cover 25 are assembled, the box is filled with a product and packed with ice and the cover 25 is put in place on the top of the box. When in position, the side panels 27 of the cover 25 extend beyond and overlap the outwardly extending complementary locking tabs 21 and 22, and the locking tongue 31 of the end panel 28 is in complementary relationship to the locking slit 24 of the end portions 15.

FIGURE 7 illustrates the locking tongue 31 bent about the score line 32 and inserted in the locking slit 24. Because of the resistance of the collar flange 18 to bending, the end panel 28 and the locking tongue 31 are pushed outwardly. This prevents the locking tongue 31 from completely entering into the locking slit 24 and results in a broad ledge for facilitating the lifting and handling of the shipping box. The aspect of the interrelationship between the tongue 31 and the slit 24 serving the dual purpose of providing a cover locking means and a carrying means is of importance in that it provides many advantages for the present improved shipping box that are not found in other shipping boxes.

It will be understood that this cover can also be secured to the body heretofore described by turning the locking tongue 31 under the collar flange 18 so that the tongue is held in locking engagement between the flange of the body and the end panel 28 of the cover. In such case the tongue 31 should be made longer or the flange out back in that area so that the tongue extends further under the flange and forms a stronger lock. This also provides a carrying means for the box. Likewise, other conventional means can be used for aifixing the cover to the body.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been devised an extremely simple shipping box for edible products, the body of which requires only a single forming blank, and is assembled without the use of extraneous securing means. The described shipping box body is secured in its assembled position by a plurality of integral interlocking tabs and provides a high wet strength, resistant container for the shipping of edible products packed in ice. In addition, the interrelationship between the locking tongue of the cover and the locking slits of the body provides a cover locking means which eliminates the necessity of other extraneous locking means, and additionally provides a carrying means which greatly facilitates the necessary handling of the present shipping box.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article, and difierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description (or shown in the accompanying drawing) shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An improved shipping box for iced edible products comprising:

a body having a bottom, sides hingedly connected to said bottom, locking tabs disposed in said sides, end portions hingedly connected to said bottom, end flaps hingedly connected to opposite side edges of said end portions and disposed in inwardly parallel juxtaposition to said sides, complementary locking tabs disposed in said end flaps in interlocking engaging relationship with said locking tabs in said sides, ledge panels connected to the upper edges of said end portions and said end flaps and disposed outwardly and substantially perpendicular thereto, collar flanges connected to the outer edges of said ledge panels and disposed in parallel overlapping juxtaposition to said sides and said end portions, wherein the upper edges of said sides are in abutting relationship to the inner surface of said ledge panels, and a cover secured to said body by tongue and slit means to provide for lifting the filled box and cover as a unit. 2. A shipping box in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover comprises:

a top panel; side panels hingedly attached to said top panel and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto; end panels hingedly attached tosaid top panel and secured to said side panels and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto; locking tongues disposed centrally and inwardly of the free outer edges of said end panels, wherein said means for securing said cover to said body comprises a locking slit in said end portion parallel to and adjacent the lower edge of said collar flange, and said locking tongue in partial interlocking insertion in said locking slit. 3. A shipping box in accordance with claim 1 wherein said locking tabs when in interlocking engagement are disposed outwardly at an acute angle to said sides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,918,205 12/ 1959 Zeitter 229- 3,196,021 7/1965 Oas et 3.1. 3,258,188 6/ 1966 Houston 229-15 FOREIGN PATENTS 88,045 12/ 1936 Sweden.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED SHIPPING BOX FOR ICED EDIBLE PRODUCTS COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING BOTTOM, SIDES HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM, LOCKING TABS DISPOSED IN SAID SIDES, END PORTIONS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM, END FLAPS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID END PORTIONS AND DISPOSED INWARDLY PARALLEL JUXTAPOSITION TO SAID SIDES, COMPLEMENTARY LOCKING TABS DISPOSED IN SAID END FLAPS IN INTERLOCKING ENGAGING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID LOCKING TABS IN SAID SIDES, LEDGE PANELS CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID END PORTIONS AND SAID END FLAPS AND DISPOSED OUTWARDLY AND SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR THERETO, COLLAR FLANGES CONNECTED TO THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID LEDGE PANELS AND 